Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 48: She’s Mad at Me

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: She’s Mad at Me

Hearing Shen Yubai’s words, Xu Chuning didn’t respond. She knew he meant well, but in reality... in this world, how many people don’t force themselves to do things they dislike just a tad?

Seeing Xu Chuning’s silent expression, Shen Yubai looked up, "Is this your silent protest?"

Xu Chuning: "...No."

She found her voice and lowered her long lashes, "It’s not that I dislike this place; it’s just a bit noisy."

Shen Yubai: "Is that so."

His indifferent tone was really asking for a beating.

Xu Chuning uttered a sound of agreement, "I can go back to the small store by myself."

Nevertheless, she agreed to Shen Yubai’s earlier suggestion to go back to the small store and rest.

Shen Yubai glanced at her and said, "Shen Sinian is not at ease."

Xu Chuning was puzzled, "What’s there for him to worry about?"

She was very familiar with this area.

Shen Yubai: "Then, you might want to ask him that."

Xu Chuning choked back.

Shen Yubai didn’t give her another chance to refuse and crisply said, "Let’s go, I don’t want to stay here either."

"..."

After such a conversation, if Xu Chuning still refused, it would indeed be too disrespectful. She fell silent for three seconds and made no further objection.

The two left the arcade and headed to the nearby bus stop to wait for the bus.

On weekends, the bus stop was comparatively crowded.

Xu Chuning and Shen Yubai kept a certain distance from each other, not looking like they were together. It was probably because the bus had just left, and after waiting for a few minutes, it still hadn’t arrived.

Xu Chuning wasn’t in a hurry, but she wondered if the young master would start feeling stifled. Just as she was lost in her thoughts, two stylishly dressed girls approached them, glanced shyly, and walked towards Shen Yubai.

Xu Chuning raised an eyebrow, guessing what was probably happening.

As expected, the next second, one of the long-haired girls approached Shen Yubai, "Handsome guy."

Shen Yubai was looking down at his phone, and upon hearing the unfamiliar female voice, he casually lifted his eyelids, his voice clear and cold, "Yes?"

The girl pressed her lips together, a bit embarrassed, and asked, "Do you mind making a new friend?"

Shen Yubai: "Not really convenient."

The girl was taken aback, clearly not anticipating such a blunt rejection from him.

Watching the girl still standing in front of him, Shen Yubai slightly furrowed his brows, he looked past the girl, narrowed his eyes slightly, and to everyone’s surprise, asked, "Why stand so far away?"

"..."

The surroundings fell silent for a few seconds, and Xu Chuning met Shen Yubai’s gaze, momentarily startled.

The girl who initiated the conversation also realized something and turned to look at her.

Xu Chuning, feeling the girl’s evaluation, wanted to play dead. After all, if she kept silent, Shen Yubai wasn’t addressing her.

What Xu Chuning didn’t know was that Shen Yubai was more observant than she thought; he could easily see through her thoughts. With that in mind, he carelessly curled his lips and said two words, "Ningning."

Under everyone’s gaze, he stared directly at her and added, "Come here."

Xu Chuning: "..."

She felt the attention on them increase by the moment, her breathing becoming tense. While she hesitated whether to go over or not, Shen Yubai seemed to sigh with a hint of helplessness and said to the girl in front of him, "Sorry, she’s showing her temper with me."

The girl’s face stiffened, embarrassed to the point of wishing she could disappear.

After speaking to the girl, Shen Yubai didn’t wait for Xu Chuning to take a step before he walked towards her and stood directly in front of her.

"Shall we go sit over there for a bit?" he asked her in a familiar tone.

Had it not been for the presence of others outside, Xu Chuning really wanted to reveal his true colors and tell him—they were not familiar.

However, there were simply too many people around, and Xu Chuning softened her heart inexplicably, deciding not to let Shen Yubai lose face, "No need."

She answered his question with a clear, pleasant voice—it wasn’t delicate, but it was very nice to listen to, "The bus is coming soon."

Shen Yubai nodded and did not insist further.

The distance between the two narrowed, close enough that if Xu Chuning slightly raised her arm, their arms could touch.

The afternoon sun was a bit strong, and Xu Chuning had originally been standing in the shade, but as she waited, the sun slowly moved, and her spot was now in the sunlight.

She had sensitive skin; her face would turn red as soon as it was sun-exposed.

Xu Chuning was struggling over whether to change positions or not when Shen Yubai suddenly glanced at her, "Let’s change spots."

"..."

Xu Chuning hadn’t come to her senses yet when she was pulled by Shen Yubai to the other end; she was standing where he originally stood in the shade, while he stayed where she was exposed to the sun.

There were other people in the shady area, not enough room to accommodate one more person.

Xu Chuning looked around and then raised her eyes to see the person who, after doing this, continued playing with his phone. From her angle, she could only see Shen Yubai’s slightly drooping eyelashes... His eyelashes were really long, seemingly even longer than hers, thick and curled.

Xu Chuning thought, those who sell false lashes must be furious seeing his natural ones.

His nose bridge was high and defined, the lines smooth and fluid, as if carved by a master sculptor. And further down, a pair of thin lips.

It’s said that those with thin lips are cold-hearted; Xu Chuning wondered if Shen Yubai was.

With her thoughts running wild, her gaze stayed on Shen Yubai’s face, forgetting to look away.

Suddenly, his clear and reserved voice enters her ears, "What are you looking at?"

"..." Xu Chuning jolted back to reality, her expression slightly confused, "What?"

Shen Yubai cast her a meaningful glance, about to say something, when Xu Chuning, with sharp eyes, saw the bus coming, "The bus is here."

She left those words behind and headed off to queue up.

Shen Yubai watched her slender figure from behind, his eyebrows lifting slightly as he followed with a soft chuckle.

Forget it, he won’t make it difficult for her.

The bus was quite crowded, Xu Chuning and Shen Yubai found a spot to stand without conversing.

Luckily, the shop wasn’t far away—just five bus stops.

Off the bus, the two walked towards the shop together.

There were no customers in the shop. You Shuzhen was watching TV, surprised to see them return one after the other, "Ningning, Xiao Shen."

"Aunt You," Shen Yubai greeted her.

You Shuzhen smiled and warmly invited him to have a seat, "Did Xiao Shen come to eat?"

"No," Shen Yubai said, "Shen Sinian is playing in the arcade, and I’m not at ease with her coming back alone."

You Shuzhen: "Ah?"

She was a bit confused; was Shen Yubai replacing Shen Sinian... to escort her daughter home?

To prevent Shen Yubai from saying more and making mistakes, Xu Chuning called out to You Shuzhen, "Mom, what are you watching on TV?"

Her attempt to change the subject was too abrupt, and You Shuzhen chuckled, "Just flipping through."

She stood up, "Would you like some water?"

Xu Chuning: "Please sit, I’ll pour it."

In the meantime, Xu Chuning turned and poured two cups of water, one for herself and one for Shen Yubai.

Shen Yubai took it, "Thank you."

Xu Chuning was puzzled, raising her eyebrows slightly, but lightly enough that You Shuzhen did not notice. However, Shen Yubai did, and he tilted his head with a tug at his lips. He really wanted to ask Xu Chuning what she thought of him—that she was so surprised by a mere thanks, she couldn’t possibly think he was like those school rumors, arrogant and brash, casually knocking off a passerby, could she?

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